BMW Reports 2014 Scooter Sales

[JaimeC]

FYI: BMW reports scooter sales (finally). BMW reported 6,391 C 650 GT and C 600 Sport scooters sold in 2014, worldwide total. Scooter sales figures were very difficult to obtain previously, so BMW must be pleased with the sales numbers to report them now.

For comparison, BMW reported 7,040 F800GS units sold in 2014; 4,278 F800GS Adventure units sold; 6,499 F700GS units sold; 3,953 F800R units sold and 3,901 F800GT units sold. So the 6,391 scooter sold is actually a very good number.

Source: webBikeWorld on Google+
https://plus.google.com/+Webbikeworld/posts/Mf4mWghVvqN

 

[Scorpion56]

It's great to see that the scooter line is doing well. Obviously, the lion's share is delivered to Europe, but it at least seems to promise that this scooter version, unlike the C1, won't be just a flash in the pan. By having people see us riding it, ("is that a scooter or a motorcycle?" "Both!") that will spread the word in the US.

 

[Edumakated]

Pretty good numbers. I think the US market is just hard to crack. The riders here are more image conscious than European riders who view scooters as legitimate forms of transportation. Over here, we seem to have way more weekend riders who are compensating looking for the biggest, baddest, and loudest bike.

 

[wsteele]

Pretty good numbers. I think the US market is just hard to crack. The riders here are more image conscious than European riders who view scooters as legitimate forms of transportation. Over here, we seem to have way more weekend riders who are compensating looking for the biggest, baddest, and loudest bike.

Right on there are a lot of weekend warriors out there with there 10 year old bikes that have maybe 2000 miles on them

 

[TwoPort]

I started looking for a new bike around May 2014. Saw the BMW scooter on their website for the first time and became curious. It seemed to fit exactly the nexus I was looking for: (1) Day trips with some tour comforts and modern tech features - not a stripped down deal. (2) Can lean without scraping, (3) Ease of scooter twist and go.

The storage and foot positions were a bonus I've come to appreciate more and more. Actually after I rode one I felt like it was a bargain in price. It was a bit of a game changer from what I could tell. The other big scooters that might have worked seemed stodgy to me.

I somehow missed getting tripped up on the "S" word (scooter) that seems to hinder most people who talk about the BMW without actually seeing it.

- Can you go on the freeway okay with it?
- Can you keep up with cars?
- Can you ride distances and still feel alright?
- Can you ride with a passenger? Is there enough power or room?
- One gear? How does that work? Does it go over 60mph?
- I was thinking about a motorcycle, not a scooter.
etc.

Somehow, when someone sees it first they think it's a cool looking motorcycle and often miss the differences. So the "S" word issues don't interfere with their perception. The more they look at it they start to discover what its about but not in a negative way so they don't ask if it goes over 60, etc. I still think it is unique and that is what makes it an uphill battle.

 

[Edumakated]

I started looking for a new bike around May 2014. Saw the BMW scooter on their website for the first time and became curious. It seemed to fit exactly the nexus I was looking for: (1) Day trips with some tour comforts and modern tech features - not a stripped down deal. (2) Can lean without scraping, (3) Ease of scooter twist and go.

The storage and foot positions were a bonus I've come to appreciate more and more. Actually after I rode one I felt like it was a bargain in price. It was a bit of a game changer from what I could tell. The other big scooters that might have worked seemed stodgy to me.

I somehow missed getting tripped up on the "S" word (scooter) that seems to hinder most people who talk about the BMW without actually seeing it.

- Can you go on the freeway okay with it?
- Can you keep up with cars?
- Can you ride distances and still feel alright?
- Can you ride with a passenger? Is there enough power or room?
- One gear? How does that work? Does it go over 60mph?
- I was thinking about a motorcycle, not a scooter.
etc.

Somehow, when someone sees it first they think it's a cool looking motorcycle and often miss the differences. So the "S" word issues don't interfere with their perception. The more they look at it they start to discover what its about but not in a negative way so they don't ask if it goes over 60, etc. I still think it is unique and that is what makes it an uphill battle.

I've had the same experience. Realistically, the only thing that makes it a scooter is the foot positions and CVT. Most people who aren't into bikes think it is motorcycle when they see it. I always felt BMW made a mistake classifying them as scooters. They should have just treated it like any other motorcycle. Called it an k650 or something and left it at that.

I think the bigger issue in the US though is that most riders are not commuters. I commute almost daily on my c600 when weather permits, so practicality is important. These scoots are way more practical than most bikes for urban commuting which is what I do 90% of the time. For the other 10%, it can get the job done. Is it the fastest bike? No, it won't be doing wheelies, but I can accelerate to 90mph faster than most cars and hold it there all day long with no problems.

 

[Gnslngr]

I've had the same experience. Realistically, the only thing that makes it a scooter is the foot positions and CVT. Most people who aren't into bikes think it is motorcycle when they see it. I always felt BMW made a mistake classifying them as scooters. They should have just treated it like any other motorcycle. Called it an k650 or something and left it at that.

I think the bigger issue in the US though is that most riders are not commuters. I commute almost daily on my c600 when weather permits, so practicality is important. These scoots are way more practical than most bikes for urban commuting which is what I do 90% of the time. For the other 10%, it can get the job done. Is it the fastest bike? No, it won't be doing wheelies, but I can accelerate to 90mph faster than most cars and hold it there all day long with no problems.

Please tell me you are not commuting in this mess of a winter we are having, because if you are then I have to rethink my riding strategy.

 

[Edumakated]

Please tell me you are not commuting in this mess of a winter we are having, because if you are then I have to rethink my riding strategy.

Oh hell no!. I only ride when it is above freezing. I will pretty much ride right down to 32 degrees. Once it gets below that I have concerns about black ice and I'm done for the season. However, I will say that there some hardcore hipsters on little scoots in this weather (well maybe not right now, but I've seen a few scooters downtown over the past week after the streets get fairly cleared).

 

[Gnslngr]

Oh hell no!. I only ride when it is above freezing. I will pretty much ride right down to 32 degrees. Once it gets below that I have concerns about black ice and I'm done for the season. However, I will say that there some hardcore hipsters on little scoots in this weather (well maybe not right now, but I've seen a few scooters downtown over the past week after the streets get fairly cleared).

I've seen a couple on Clark street north of the river as I drive in to the loop, but they are the small chinese type. No bikes or maxis, or Vespas for that matter.

I need to find out what kind of gear you wear to ride near freezing, and if you get on one of our fine, well-maintained (hah!) freeways in your commute or if you just come from another part of the city on those fine, well-maintained (hah!) Chicago streets.

 

[Edumakated]

I've seen a couple on Clark street north of the river as I drive in to the loop, but they are the small chinese type. No bikes or maxis, or Vespas for that matter.

I need to find out what kind of gear you wear to ride near freezing, and if you get on one of our fine, well-maintained (hah!) freeways in your commute or if you just come from another part of the city on those fine, well-maintained (hah!) Chicago streets.

I live in Oak Park, so I typically take 290 or ride out Lake Street or Chicago for my morning commute. Going home I usually just jump on Chicago Ave. 290 is pretty smooth other than the traffic being stop and go. All the routes take about the same amount of time for me in the morning. Chicago ave actually isn't that bad (Other than riding through that third world shit hole neighborhood we call Austin) because they just repaved it pretty much the entire route I take last year. There are some spots though once you get down near the Loop that are like riding on the moon. You quickly learn not to ride too close to the car in front of you lest you get a nasty pothole surprise.

My standard gear for commuting is the following when below about 45 degrees:

Nolan N44 Helmet with pinlock insert to stop fogging.
Alpinestars Verona Waterproof Jacket. Has a nice warm liner and does an excellent job of keeping the wind off you.
Alpinestars s-mx1 boots. They are actually vented and wear them during the summer too, but they work well when the temps drop.
Revit Carver H20 Gloves. They work ok. Finger tips still get a bit cold though
Spidi Overpants. Works great over jeans.
A cashmere baklava

During the summer:
Revit Sand Pro gloves.
Dainese Mesh Jacket
Jeans
Boots if getting on highway, otherwise just standard shoes.

 

[JaimeC]

I've ridden down into the teens and single digits here in New York. In extreme cold, I wear polypropylene long johns (available anywhere they sell cross-country ski equipment; also available from the Aerostich Catalog), heavy flannel shirt, wool socks, and an electric vest UNDER a fleece pull over. Over everything is my Roadcrafter or Darien Suit. I have Olympia winter gloves which are Gore-Tex lined leather over Thinsulate insulation. I'll often wear a silk scarf to protect that thin area of exposed neck between the Roadcrafter suit and the bottom of the full-face helmet. Like Edumakated, I have a pinlock shield that prevents fogging so I don't have to crack the face shield open.

All of that with the heated grips and the heated seat are good enough for truly BRUTAL temperatures. By the way, as a friend of mine in Alaska pointed out, when ice is cold enough, it really isn't that slippery... it's just another "rock." Ice gets slippery when it partially melts under your tire. I still won't ride if there is any chance of ice or snow on the road. Main roads clear out before secondary ones and for me, it's all main roads from the house to the office.

 

[Edumakated]

I've ridden down into the teens and single digits here in New York. In extreme cold, I wear polypropylene long johns (available anywhere they sell cross-country ski equipment; also available from the Aerostich Catalog), heavy flannel shirt, wool socks, and an electric vest UNDER a fleece pull over. Over everything is my Roadcrafter or Darien Suit. I have Olympia winter gloves which are Gore-Tex lined leather over Thinsulate insulation. I'll often wear a silk scarf to protect that thin area of exposed neck between the Roadcrafter suit and the bottom of the full-face helmet. Like Edumakated, I have a pinlock shield that prevents fogging so I don't have to crack the face shield open.

All of that with the heated grips and the heated seat are good enough for truly BRUTAL temperatures. By the way, as a friend of mine in Alaska pointed out, when ice is cold enough, it really isn't that slippery... it's just another "rock." Ice gets slippery when it partially melts under your tire. I still won't ride if there is any chance of ice or snow on the road. Main roads clear out before secondary ones and for me, it's all main roads from the house to the office.

Totally forgot about thermal underwear. I wear basic cotton long johns and they do a decent job of keeping my legs warm, particularly if I have my overpants on too.

 

[Spdrush]

I live in Oak Park, so I typically take 290 or ride out Lake Street or Chicago for my morning commute. Going home I usually just jump on Chicago Ave. 290 is pretty smooth other than the traffic being stop and go. All the routes take about the same amount of time for me in the morning. Chicago ave actually isn't that bad (Other than riding through that third world shit hole neighborhood we call Austin) because they just repaved it pretty much the entire route I take last year. There are some spots though once you get down near the Loop that are like riding on the moon. You quickly learn not to ride too close to the car in front of you lest you get a nasty pothole surprise.

My standard gear for commuting is the following when below about 45 degrees:

Nolan N44 Helmet with pinlock insert to stop fogging.
Alpinestars Verona Waterproof Jacket. Has a nice warm liner and does an excellent job of keeping the wind off you.
Alpinestars s-mx1 boots. They are actually vented and wear them during the summer too, but they work well when the temps drop.
Revit Carver H20 Gloves. They work ok. Finger tips still get a bit cold though
Spidi Overpants. Works great over jeans.
A cashmere baklava

During the summer:
Revit Sand Pro gloves.
Dainese Mesh Jacket
Jeans
Boots if getting on highway, otherwise just standard shoes.

By the time I got all that on I would have to pee.

 

[wsteele]

I don't know why any one would think ice isn't slippery when it it is really cold. Sure when you introduce liquid water to the ice it will make it more slippery but it will freeze and be still slippery. I know the ice here in Vermont is always slippery if it is 15 below 0 or if it is 20 degrees above zero. Right now it is 6 degrees outside and I just checked the ice in my driveway it is slippery.

 

[JaimeC]

Cotton isn't really a good thermal layer. It absorbs and holds your sweat so you can get pretty clammy and chilled quickly. Polypropylene wicks the perspiration off your skin to the outer layer, so you always have a dry layer of clothing against your skin.

There are other fabrics (the only non-synthetics I can think of are wool and silk) that do this as well, but polypropylene is the least expensive in my experience.

 

[JaimeC]

I use heavy cotton in the SUMMER. Soak it thoroughly in water and wear it under a Gore-Tex suit (like the Roadcrafter or Darien) and it is like having an air conditioner for about an hour. Then it's time to stop and soak it again.

 

[Snowdog]

Wool. When I was a kid, I always wore wool mittens. I delivered newspapers in any weather, including hurricanes and blizzards, and learned quickly that wool mittens were warm even when sopping wet.

 

[Gnslngr]

Double post my bad.

 

[Gnslngr]

I live in Oak Park, so I typically take 290 or ride out Lake Street or Chicago for my morning commute. Going home I usually just jump on Chicago Ave. 290 is pretty smooth other than the traffic being stop and go. All the routes take about the same amount of time for me in the morning. Chicago ave actually isn't that bad (Other than riding through that third world shit hole neighborhood we call Austin) because they just repaved it pretty much the entire route I take last year. There are some spots though once you get down near the Loop that are like riding on the moon. You quickly learn not to ride too close to the car in front of you lest you get a nasty pothole surprise.

My standard gear for commuting is the following when below about 45 degrees:

Nolan N44 Helmet with pinlock insert to stop fogging.
Alpinestars Verona Waterproof Jacket. Has a nice warm liner and does an excellent job of keeping the wind off you.
Alpinestars s-mx1 boots. They are actually vented and wear them during the summer too, but they work well when the temps drop.
Revit Carver H20 Gloves. They work ok. Finger tips still get a bit cold though
Spidi Overpants. Works great over jeans.
A cashmere baklava

During the summer:
Revit Sand Pro gloves.
Dainese Mesh Jacket
Jeans
Boots if getting on highway, otherwise just standard shoes.

I grew up in Oak Park (albeit on the southern end of it, so you know I grew up away from the lap of luxury), so I know exactly the routes you take. You are one brave fellow to go through Austin or even ride down Lake Street - the poverty there is horrendous. I really, really appreciate the gear recommendations. I love the Nolan N44, have one myself. I going to take a look at the rest of the stuff on Revzilla or Moto/SStore. Hope I run into you this summer (yea, I do not have the huevos to ride below, say, 40). Not many Urban Mobility Vehicles out there.

 

[exavid]

Back in the early '70s my new bride and I rode our Yamaha 125 trail bike most of the winter in the Eskimo village of Kotzebue, AK. At -20F and colder riding on wind blown snow on the coast is a lot like well packed sand. The sea ice with a thin skin of snow was much the same as riding on hard packed dirt. That little bike could climb over some pretty impressive drifts with the transmission in low range. The bike was small enough we could keep it in the heated cat shed at the FAA station where we lived so it wasn't hard to get it going in the cold.
Now that I'm a geezer and a weenie I like the ice warning on the GT. Just a reminder to keep an eye out for black ice. I also like the GT for dirt roads, it feel a lot more stable than my K1100LT on loose gravel and dirt. A bit rougher riding in the bad spots but a lot easier to keep upright.

I hope sales are good enough for BMW to keep the 650GT going here in the USA and not make it an orphan. Seems to me it should outsell the Burgman. Better looking to me and handles a lot better in the twisties.